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PWCA History:
Prince William Crew Association, Inc. (PWCA), was established in 1981 to support 2 teams, Woodbridge and Potomac high schools, in their endeavor to start Prince William County High School rowing on the Occoquan reservoir. Woodbridge, Potomac, and Gar-Field (est 1985) started rowing at the Sandy Run Rowing Facility in Fairfax Station, and in 1987, with the development of Lake Ridge Park, construction of the Oxford Boathouse began.
(www.facebook.com/groups/pwoxfordboathouse/)
In the fall of 1988, Oxford Boathouse opened as the home of Prince William County rowing and consisted of 2 bays and an outside deck, all deep enough to house eight man shells and work rooms in the back. Launch boat engines were stored under the boathouse and each team built a storage area to each side of the store room. Three docks were built, 2 for launching and recovery and 1 to moor coach launches. In 1992, Hylton High School opened and was welcomed into the boathouse. We needed more room, so the deck area was caged in, and the cage was developed for boat storage. Shortly thereafter the 4th bay was built with space to accommodate fours.
In the meantime, adults of rowers found an interest in the sport and started to participate in 1990 and eventually founded Prince William Rowing Club (PWRC) in 1997. PWRC rents shells and equipment from the high schools to help support scholastic rowing in our county. PWRC 's award winning organization greatly supports PWCA efforts and spreads the sport of rowing further throughout our community.
As the new millennium started, so did Forest Park High School! The bottom storage levels were enclosed and a new building for the storage of fuel and launch boat motors was built, as were individual team storage rooms off the back of the boathouse.
Building the boathouse, installing and maintaining dock sections, fixing and shingling the roof, enclosing the cage, and putting siding on the boathouse has been the focus of PWCA volunteers for the last 10+ years. A new, environmentally friendly, long-lasting Dock #1 was installed in 2017.
PWCA looks forward to, and is constantly working toward, becoming a community boathouse supporting even more high school rowing programs.
(www.facebook.com/groups/pwoxfordboathouse/)
In the fall of 1988, Oxford Boathouse opened as the home of Prince William County rowing and consisted of 2 bays and an outside deck, all deep enough to house eight man shells and work rooms in the back. Launch boat engines were stored under the boathouse and each team built a storage area to each side of the store room. Three docks were built, 2 for launching and recovery and 1 to moor coach launches. In 1992, Hylton High School opened and was welcomed into the boathouse. We needed more room, so the deck area was caged in, and the cage was developed for boat storage. Shortly thereafter the 4th bay was built with space to accommodate fours.
In the meantime, adults of rowers found an interest in the sport and started to participate in 1990 and eventually founded Prince William Rowing Club (PWRC) in 1997. PWRC rents shells and equipment from the high schools to help support scholastic rowing in our county. PWRC 's award winning organization greatly supports PWCA efforts and spreads the sport of rowing further throughout our community.
As the new millennium started, so did Forest Park High School! The bottom storage levels were enclosed and a new building for the storage of fuel and launch boat motors was built, as were individual team storage rooms off the back of the boathouse.
Building the boathouse, installing and maintaining dock sections, fixing and shingling the roof, enclosing the cage, and putting siding on the boathouse has been the focus of PWCA volunteers for the last 10+ years. A new, environmentally friendly, long-lasting Dock #1 was installed in 2017.
PWCA looks forward to, and is constantly working toward, becoming a community boathouse supporting even more high school rowing programs.